Stay Well in Ealing this Winter

Ealing CCG is urging residents of Ealing, particularly those with
long-term conditions and those over 65, to Stay Well This Winter and ward off
common winter illnesses so they do not require a visit to the hospital.

The
campaign aims to support people to stay well during winter months when demand
on GP and hospital services is at its highest.

Many
people are not fully aware of the range of services available to them when they
feel unwell and will sometimes use services inappropriately.

Giving
people simple messages about available services and how to look after their
health, particularly during the winter months, can have dramatic impacts on
freeing up services for real emergencies.

Self-Care and Wellbeing

Eating
healthily– hot
meals help keep you warm and you should have at least one hot meal per day
alongside plenty of hot drinks. Include a good range of food in your diet
including fruit and vegetables each day. It’s also a good idea to keep basic
food items in your cupboard and freezer in case it is too cold to go shopping. Info from Age UK

Keep
Moving - getting
plenty of exercise and fresh air are important factors to help you look after your
health. If it’s not too cold, take a short walk in the middle of the day and look
for ways to keep active - get up and walk around, make yourself a warm drink
and spread any chores throughout the day.

Chair-based
exercises are helpful if walking is difficult, along with moving your arms and
legs and wiggling your toes. Info from Age UK

Living
with a Long Term Condition – research shows that people with long-term conditions who take more
control of their health and wellbeing feel more able to cope with their health
problem, have better pain management, fewer flare ups and more energy. Self-care
can help you make the most of living with your condition, rather than avoiding
or missing out on things because of it. Self-care puts you in control. Living
with a long-term condition brings challenges and it’s important to have the
confidence, support and information to manage your health. Find out more on from the Self
Care Forum

Keep
Warm and Keep Well – It is important to keep homes warm if an
individual has a long term health condition, for some disabilities and if someone
in the household is over 65. To qualify
as warm the home should be at least 18C (64.4F). People should try and have at least one hot
meal per day and move around as much as they are able. Following these simple tips can help prevent
risk of colds, flu, heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and even depression. If people have difficulty with keeping their
home warm, Ealing Healthy
Homes project might be able to help. Call them on
FREEPHONE number 0800 083 2265.

Get
Your Flu Jab – If someone is eligible for the flu vaccination
– they should get it done! Flu can turn serious very quickly and in extreme
cases can be fatal. People are eligible
for a free vaccination if they are:

Over 65

Pregnant

Living with an underlying health condition
(e.g. heart or lung disease)

Living with a weakened immune system

A child who was aged two, three or four on the
31st of the preceding August of the same year

A child in school year 1,2 or 3

A carer for someone with an underlying health
condition or frontline health or social care worker

Flu. Illness from uncomplicated flu can last for
three to seven days in most adult although you may feel tired or weak for up to
two weeks after this. Complications such
as pneumonia can occur in some people and may cause a more prolonged illness.

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It's fast,
easy and free. People should call 111 to
speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask a series of questions to assess
symptoms and immediately direct the caller to the best medical care. If required, they might even suggest the
caller sees one of the out of hours GP’s available in Ealing.

Evening
and weekend GP services in EalingIf someone
feels unwell when their GP is closed, they should call NHS 111. If the trained advisor thinks they need a GP
weekend or evening appointment they may be referred to a local GP practice. Using this service will not affect their
registration with their own GP.

Pharmacy – Pharmacists are highly trained and can provide
expert advice on appropriate medicines and when to take them. They are qualified to be able to tell a person
which medicines should or should not be taken with medicines already prescribed
and being taken. Many pharmacies are open when GPs are not and they
don’t require an appointment. Many
medicines prescribed by a GP are available over the counter from a pharmacist.

Keep
Your Medicine Cabinet Stocked Up – A range of common winter illnesses and injuries
can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with
plenty of rest. Useful items to keep in a
first aid kit or medicine cabinet include: